huntsville-physicians-leg

Research Assistant Job Postings - Summer 2025

magdalena.sitnik@mahc.ca (Magdalena Partyka-Sitnik) — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 13:20:19 GMT

The deadline for submitting applications for research assistant positions is April 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

Research Assistant Job Postings – Summer 2025

All research assistants report to the Regional Research Team and are expected to:

Ensure patient and data confidentiality is maintained at all times.
Coordinate their hours of work with the Regional Research Administrator.
Attend meetings with project teams as required.
Complete training as required.
Complete other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications & Attributes for all Research Assistants:

Candidates will have completed a minimum of 1 year of post-secondary education
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Software
Data entry experience
Ability to self-manage and work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team
A clear Vulnerable Sector Screen (reimbursement will be provided with receipt)

The following would be considered assets for all Research Assistants:

Strong problem solving and analytical skills
Strong communication skills
TCPS2 Training
Knowledge of medical terminology
Previous literature search experience
Previous experience with scientific report writing
Additional years of experience writing papers at the university level

Interested candidates can apply to one or all of the opportunities listed below and are asked to specify which position(s) they are applying to in their cover letter.

Please note: these positions may be independent or combined. Interviews will be held Monday April 28th between 12-4PM and will be hosted virtually. The complex scheduling of the interview panel requires applicants to attend the interview as scheduled.

In person training will be held on May 12th, 2025. Successful candidates must attend this training.

To apply, please email your cover letter and resume as one PDF document to:

Lisa Allen

Regional Research Coordinator

100 Frank Miller Drive

Huntsville, ON

P1H 1H7

lisa.allen@mahc.ca

We will accept applications until 11:59 AM EST on Friday April 18th, 2025.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Opportunity #1

Projects: (1) Women’s Health Hub

Research Teams: (1) Dr. Lindsay MacMillan, Angela Hollingshead, Lisa Allen, Magdalena Partyka-Sitnik

Location: Huntsville

Compensation: $20/hour

Hours: 100-140 hours

Project Timeline: May 12, 2024- Aug 13, 2024

Position Overview

This posting is for a research assistant to assist with the Women’s Health Hub. The successful candidate will be tasked with creating a database of survey responses, analyzing these data using basic statistical methods and presenting the data in a meaningful way to the research team. The successful applicant will create a summary of each session (12) and work on the planning for year two of the study. The successful candidate will then accurately summarize the collected data and prepare a written report/summary of the findings.

The research assistant will work onsite at the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital site of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Opportunity #2

Projects: Manuscript preparation

Research Teams: Lisa Allen, Magdalena Partyka-Sitnik

Location: Huntsville

Compensation: $20/hour

Hours: 80-100 hours

Project Timeline: May 12, 2024- Aug 13, 2024

Position Overview

The successful candidate for this position will assist in data collection and entry into an appropriate spreadsheet over the course of the study. For several studies the candidate will use study data and draft a manuscript or final report suitable

for an academic audience.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Opportunity #3 (2)

Project: Unattached Patient Data

Research Team: Dr. Caitlin Dmitriew, Dr. Melanie Mar, Lisa Allen, Magdalena Partyka-Sitnik

Location: Huntsville

Compensation: $20/hour

Hours: 160-200 hours

Project Timeline: May 12, 2024- Aug 13, 2024

Position Overview

The research assistant will work with this project’s team of investigators to collect data related to unattached patients in the region. The successful candidate(s) will use a data acquisition sheet provided to accomplish this goal and then enter the data into an excel spreadsheet. This position will require significant initiative and attention to detail. The research assistant(s) will then accurately plot/report and/or summarize the collected data, for presentation. This research assistant will work onsite at the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital site of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Opportunity #4 (2)

Project: Quality Improvement Initiative(s)

Research Team: Lisa Allen, Magdalena Partyka-Sitnik, Dr. Taylor Hammond and Dr. Scott Whynot

Location: Huntsville

Compensation: $20/hour

Hours: 170-200 hours

Project Timeline: May 12, 2024- Aug 13, 2024

Position Overview

The research assistant(s) will work on quality improvement initiatives to collect data given the question being asked by the quality improvement initiative’s primary investigator. The successful candidate will use a data acquisition sheet provided to accomplish this goal and then enter the data into an excel spreadsheet. This position will require significant initiative and attention to detail. The research assistant will then accurately plot/report and/or summarize the collected data into a written report of the findings for the quality improvement initiative. This research assistant will work onsite at the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital site of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare.

Practical Orthopaedic Application for Rural Practitioners: Evaluation of Online Learning

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 20:05:48 GMT

The study

As demonstrated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there is enormous potential for online learning to provide cost efficient, effective, scalable interventions. These methods can be scaled up to include middle and low-income countries to advance knowledge of health and healthcare outcomes, thus improving equitable care to all. Also highlighted through the pandemic was the mismatch that currently exists between professional competencies globally.

Rural and remote communities in Canada face many of the same barriers as communities in low- and middle-income countries. There is substantially less access to healthcare services, less continuity of care, geographic challenges and scarcity of resources (6–8). People living in rural and remote communities such as those found in Northern Ontario face lower life expectancy, increased mortality rates and generally poorer health status compared to those in urban centres (9–12).

Using technology to improve access to and opportunities for learners within Canada can easily be shared within other medical school environments (13). Giving medical learners the opportunity to work at their own pace and encouraging international collaboration establishes global interest and relationships within the global healthcare community, which increases the opportunity for advancing social responsibility and equitable health care (14). This study aims to determine if a specifically designed online program can improve comprehension, confidence, clinical application, and exposure to common musculoskeletal cases for learners considering rural practice, applicable to any location. This study includes a collaboration with medical learners in Uganda and if successful may be of significant benefit for global learners with resource limitations.

NOSMU Faculty Preceptor Bootcamp

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 20:05:47 GMT

Developing Flexible, Expert, In-Person, Teaching Content One Community at a Time

NOSMU is the newest and only stand-alone medical university in Canada, with more than 1800 clinical faculty (90% physicians) teaching in more than 90 communities throughout northern Ontario (5). As a distributed medical school, learners complete their training almost exclusively working and learning alongside clinical teaching faculty while immersed in NOSMU communities. Medical schools are actively increasing enrollment to help alleviate the current shortage of physicians, particularly in primary care. The medical school expansion starting this year will result in new preceptors experiencing teaching for the first time. It is essential that new preceptors feel supported as they take on this new role. NOSMU has a wealth of teaching experience with champions in each community and practice specialty.

Physicians who teach and mentor students overwhelmingly agree that their interaction with students is a fulfilling part of their job, however entering these leadership roles can be daunting for new or inexperienced faculty. This study will develop modules on aspects of teaching that can be delivered in any NOSMU community by content experts. The result of this study will be more competent and confident medical teachers and learners.

Choosing Wisely Canada – Investigation of Awareness and Implementation

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 20:05:45 GMT

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine University (NOSMU) (formerly known as NOSM) is a medical school with primary campuses in Sudbury and Thunder Bay. The medical school extends to include most communities of Northern Ontario and is the first independent medical school in Canada. NOSMU currently has more than 1800 clinical faculty (1610 of whom are physicians) teaching in more than 90 communities throughout northern Ontario (30). One of the core values of NOSMU includes training rural residents who are socially accountable. As a distributed medical school, learners complete their training almost exclusively in collaboration with clinical teaching faculty, who have a significant impact on learners while immersed in NOSMU communities.

When residents train alongside practicing clinicians, they are more likely to adopt similar practices and behaviours. Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC) is a campaign that encourages patients and physicians to have conversations about unnecessary tests, treatments, and procedures. This study will investigate and identify barriers for the implementation of these recommendations and ways to improve their integration in primary care and surgical practice.

The Annex

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 20:05:41 GMT

Unattached patients are permanent residents of a community without a primary care provider. Increased community growth, physician retirement and fewer new providers leave rural communities with very high numbers of unattached patients, particularly in Northern Ontario. Larger communities help alleviate this through walk-in clinics, but that model of care is not always applicable or feasible.

Unattached patients requiring complex care and follow-up often have no option other than attending and returning to the emergency department (ED) for their care and follow up. The result is excessive burden on the ED, poor continuity of care, and in many cases prolonged inpatient stays as physicians are reluctant to discharge complex patients who are unable to access follow-up.

The Annex was established through commitment of rural clinicians, administrators and allied healthcare providers, supported by the Town of Huntsville to provide comprehensive primary care to unattached residents. This study will investigate if the provision of care at The Annex reduces ED use and hospital readmission by unattached patients discharged from MAHC.

Within The Annex, patients are cared for by a comprehensive interdisciplinary team. Patients can schedule appointments at their convenience with the most appropriate provider. Patients discharged from inpatient care will receive routine comprehensive follow-up to promote recovery and prevent readmission. This model of care, if successful, can easily be translated to any similar community within Canada. This program aims to provide optimal care through an interdisciplinary team approach enabling healthcare providers to work at their full scope of practice.

For more information please go to the Annex Website: https://algonquinfht.ca/theannexclinic/

The Rural Exercise for Cancer Patients & Survivors (RECaPS) Project Phase II: Multi-site Pilot

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:27:54 GMT

This project aims to promote accessibility of specialized support services to rural community-based cancer patients and survivors - a population in great need of physical and psychological support. We also aim to evaluate the scalability and potential permanent adoption of this specialized program, within rural communities across Northern Ontario. If successful, we will provide evidence that it is possible to develop similar, or complementary, specialized support services for high-risk/high-need clinical populations living outside major urban centres.

What is it?

An exercise program designed to help people who are currently receiving treatment or were treated for cancer within the past 5 years.

What will I be doing?

You will take part in a free, 12 - week, personalized exercise program consisting of twice-weekly, 1- hour exercise sessions supervised by our Exercise Lead, Deanna Lavigne, Registered Kinesiologist.

How do I register/Find out more?

Contact our Research Administrator, Maggie Partyka-Sitnik, by phone at 705-789-0022 x 2716 or email at therecapsstudy@gmail.com.

Study Physicians:

Jessica Nairn, MD, CCFP

Lindsay MacMillan, MD, CCFP (PI)

Helen Dempster, MD, CCFP, MSc, BScEng

Rich Trenholm, MD, CCFP, CFPC, MSc, BSc

Women's Health Hub

magdalena.sitnik@mahc.ca (Magdalena Partyka-Sitnik) — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 10:30:15 GMT

Menopause Education Seminars

Health is more than just the absence of disease. It is a dynamic state of well-being characterized by physical, mental, and social potential that satisfies the demands of life.

Women aged 40 – 65 considered ‘healthy’ have largely been ignored in research, while new anecdotal findings highlight the detrimental impact menopause has on cardiovascular disease, mental illness, and osteoporosis and many other conditions (1,2). Many health professionals are unaware of the relationship between menopause and increased health related risk (3,4). Arming women with information about the changes that may occur related to menopause is of substantial value as lifestyle changes can significantly reduce their overall risk of disease, particularly cardiovascular.

This research study will investigate the impact of support and education around menopause, with respect to patient knowledge, self-reported quality of life and overall satisfaction. Participants in this study will complete pre-and post-education questionnaires and surveys about their quality of life as it relates to their healthcare and their satisfaction with the program.

Investigators: Dr. Lindsay MacMillan, Angela Hollingshead, Maggie Partyka-Sitnik, and Lisa Allen

Goal: We are creating a safe space for women who are in, or are approaching, perimenopause and menopause to learn about their health.

Class topics

October 2024 - What is Menopause?

Introduction to menopause: Understanding the biological and physiological changes.
Common symptoms and misconceptions.

November 2024 - Perimenopause

What are the symptoms and what to expect in the menopause transition.

December 2024 - Sleep and Menopause

Understanding how menopause affects sleep patterns.
Strategies for improving sleep quality.

January 2025 – Mental Health, Emotional Well-being and Stress Management

Techniques to manage stress during menopause.
The impact of stress on menopause symptoms.
Menopause in the workplace.

February 2025 - Exercise and Physical Health

The role of exercise in managing menopause symptoms.
Safe and effective physical activities for all fitness levels.

March 2025 - Nutrition and Menopause

Focusing on nutritional needs during menopause.
How diet impacts symptoms and overall health.

April 2025 - Body Changes in Menopause

Discussing the physiology of body changes during menopause.
Promoting positive self-esteem and body acceptance.

May 2025 - Navigating Healthcare and Menopause

Understanding and advocating for your health needs.
How to find evidenced based information about menopause online
Menopause Hormone Therapy and working with healthcare providers for optimal care

June 2025 - Lifestyle and Complementary Approaches for Menopausal Symptoms

Exploring safe, evidence-based and effective complementary therapies.
Mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation techniques.

July 2025 - Menopause and Relationships

Communicating about menopause with partners and family.
Maintaining intimacy and understanding through change.
Common physical changes affecting sexual health during menopause.

August 2025 - Preparing for Post-Menopause

Looking beyond menopause: Long-term health considerations.
Lifestyle adjustments for the post-menopausal phase.

September 2025 - Reflection and Community

Sharing experiences and learnings from the year.
Building a community for ongoing support.

REGISTRATION FOR 2024/2025 IS NOW CLOSED

If you wish to participate in the program for 2025/2026, please follow the link by clicking HERE if you would like to register for the waitlist.

CLOSED - Research Assistant Job Postings - Summer 2024

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 17:04:55 GMT

No longer accepting applications for research assistants in Muskoka for summer 2024- check back in SPRING 2025

All research assistants report to the Regional Research Team and are expected to:

•Ensure patient and data confidentiality is maintained at all times.

•Coordinate their hours of work with the Regional Research Administrator.

•Attend meetings with project teams as required.

•Complete training as required.

•Complete other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications & Attributes for all Research Assistants:

•Candidates will have completed a minimum of 1 year of post-secondary education

•Proficiency with Microsoft Office Software

•Data entry experience

•Ability to self-manage and work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team

•A clear Vulnerable Sector Screen (reimbursement will be provided with receipt)

The following would be considered assets for all Research Assistants:

•Strong problem solving and analytical skills

•Strong communication skills

•TCPS2 Training

•Knowledge of medical terminology

•Previous literature search experience

•Previous experience with scientific report writing

•Additional years of experience writing papers at the university level

Interested candidates can apply to one or all of the opportunities listed below and are asked to specify which position(s) they are applying to in their cover letter.

Please note: these positions may be independent or combined. Interviews will be held Monday April 29th between 12-4PM and will be hosted virtually. The complex scheduling of the interview panel requires applicants to attend the interview as scheduled.

To apply, please email your cover letter and resume as one PDF document to:

Lisa Allen

Regional Research Coordinator

100 Frank Miller Drive

Huntsville, ON

P1H 1H7

lisa.allen@mahc.ca

We will accept applications until 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday April 23, 2024.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Opportunity #1

Projects: (1) Generational Correlation of Caesarian Sections with Labour Dystocia (2) Evaluation of Patient Outcomes Using Minimally Invasive Pilonidal Cyst Removal in a Small Rural Hospital (3) Penicillin Allergy Delabeling using Direct Oral Challenge in a Rural Ontario Setting – Pilot

Research Teams: (1) Dr. Sandi Adamson, Lisa Allen, Magdalena Partyka-Sitnik (2) Dr. Hector Roldan, Dr. Nastasia Wasilewski, Lisa Allen, Magdalena Partyka-Sitnik (3) Dr. Malcolm Wilson, Dr. Jennifer Macmillan, Dr. Dave Johnstone, Dr. Dave McLinden, Dr. Patricia Marx, Lisa Allen, Magdalena Partyka-Sitnik

Location: Huntsville

Compensation: $20/hour

Hours: 100-140 hours

Project Timeline: May 15, 2024- Aug 8, 2024

Position Overview

This posting is for a research assistant to assist with the three projects listed above. The successful candidate will be tasked with data entry and creating a database of contacts and research responses. Additionally, the candidate will be required to collaborate with research staff to obtain patient responses and feedback which will then be entered into an appropriate datasheet. Thirdly, this research assistant will attend scheduled clinics for the Direct Oral Challenge Clinic to assist with the procedures of this study. Data transfer and interaction with participants will be required. The successful candidate will then accurately summarize the collected data and prepare a written report/summary of the findings.

The research assistant will work onsite in both office and patient settings at the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital site of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Opportunity #2

Projects: The Regional Exercise for Cancer Patients and Survivors (RECaPS) II

Research Teams: Dr. Jessica Nairn, Dr. Helen Dempster, Dr. Rich Trenholm, Dr. Lindsay MacMillan, Deanna Lavigne, Fyonna Vanderwerf, Lisa Allen, Magdalena Partyka-Sitnik

Location: Bracebridge and Huntsville

Compensation: $20/hour

Hours: 80-100 hours

Project Timeline: May 15, 2024- Aug 8, 2024

Position Overview

The successful candidate for this position will assist kinesiologist Deanna Lavigne in completing initial and final participant assessments and will be required to attend the gym facility on a regular basis, in Huntsville, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The candidate will work directly with participants to assist them as needed while they complete their individual exercise program. The research assistant will also assist in data collection and entry into an appropriate spreadsheet over the course of the study.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Opportunity #3

Project: Unattached Patient Discharge Data

Research Team: Dr. Caitlin Dmitriew, Lisa Allen, Magdalena Partyka-Sitnik

Location: Huntsville

Compensation: $20/hour

Hours: 160-200 hours

Project Timeline: May 15, 2024- Aug 8, 2024

Position Overview

The research assistant will work with this project’s team of investigators to collect data related to unattached patients in the region. The successful candidate will use a data acquisition sheet provided to accomplish this goal, and then enter the data into an excel spreadsheet. This position will require significant initiative and attention to detail. The research assistant will then accurately plot/report and/or summarize the collected data, for presentation. This research assistant will work onsite at the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital site of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Opportunity #4

Project: Quality Improvement Initiative(s)

Research Team: Lisa Allen, Magdalena Partyka-Sitnik and Various Physicians

Location: Huntsville

Compensation: $20/hour

Hours: 170-200 hours

Project Timeline: May 15, 2024- Aug 8, 2024

Position Overview

The research assistant(s) working on quality improvement initiatives to collect data given the question being asked by the quality improvement initiative’s primary investigator. The successful candidate will use a data acquisition sheet provided to accomplish this goal, and then enter the data into an excel spreadsheet. This position will require significant initiative and attention to detail. The research assistant will then accurately plot/report and/or summarize the collected data into a written report of the findings for the quality improvement initiative. This research assistant will work onsite at the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital site of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare.

COMPLETED - Evaluation of Direct Oral Challenge Clinic to Assess Penicillin Allergies in a Rural Ontario Setting-Pilot Project

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 17:47:25 GMT

Penicillin Allergy Delabeling in a Rural Ontario Setting

Study Physicians:

Malcolm Wilson, MD, FRCPC - General Internist (PI)

Jennifer Macmillan, MD, MSc, FRCSC - General Surgeon

Dave McLinden, MD, CFPC

David Johnstone, MD, FRCPC

Karen Binkley, MD, FRCPC - Allergy and Immunology Specialist

What is it?

The study will collect information and feedback from participants who attend the Direct Oral Challenge clinic, to investigate if the clinic is practical to operate and can impact patient care by addressing mislabeled penicillin allergies.

What will I be doing?

MAHC is developing a method for penicillin allergy testing in an outpatient clinic setting. If you are eligible to attend the clinic, our research team would like your feedback on the experience, whether you complete the Direct Oral Challenge or not. You will be asked to complete a short questionnaire that provides feedback about the clinic on the day you attend. You will also be contacted to complete a short follow-up survey 6 and 12 months after you enter the study. The follow-up survey will ask if you have been prescribed penicillin or related antibiotics like amoxicillin in the time since attending the clinic. You will be asked if you give permission for your allergy history and outcome of attending the DOC to be shared with your healthcare team. Your participation includes only feedback and surveys about your experience.

Penicillin Allergy Delabeling in a Rural Ontario Setting - FAQs

What is penicillin?

Penicillin remains a very useful antibiotic and can be the best antibiotic to treat some common infections like pneumonia and cellulitis (skin infection), as well as some severe infections like necrotizing fasciitis (“flesh eating disease”).

What does it mean when someone has a penicillin allergy?

If you are labelled as having a penicillin allergy, your doctor may have to select a less effective antibiotic to treat your condition, which could result in slower recovery and more side effects .

What is the purpose of this study?

In this study, we are testing a method to safely evaluate penicillin allergies, remove the penicillin allergy label from medical records, and promote confidence that penicillin, and related antibiotics like amoxicillin, can be taken safely in the future if necessary.

How could participating in this study help me?

As an eligible participant, if testing determines that you are not allergic, your medical record at the hospital and with your primary care provider will be updated. In the future, you would be eligible for treatment with penicillin and related antibiotics.

I don’t know if I’m allergic…how do I know if I should participate?

Many people report that they have an allergy to penicillin, but often they are uncertain what reaction they had or when it occurred. Participation in this study is voluntary for low-risk* adults, and available to those who think they have an allergy to penicillin or amoxicillin, and have not had formal allergy testing to confirm this. This study is for those who want to know if they can safely receive penicillin without fear of a severe reaction. (*Note: Participants will be screened to determine low-risk eligibility.)

What does participation involve?

You will have an initial telephone interview to determine if your reported penicillin allergy can be safely tested in an outpatient clinic setting.
If eligible, you will be offered to book an appointment to receive two doses of amoxicillin (very similar to penicillin), one hour apart, while being monitored closely in the hospital setting, where any allergic reaction can be treated promptly. This will require approximately 2 hours of your time, however you may use your phone, read, or bring another quiet activity to pass the time.
You will receive a follow up phone call at 1 week and 1 month after the exposure to assess for any delayed reaction.
We will seek your feedback on the overall experience at 6 and 12 months, to learn if it is feasible to offer this form of allergy testing and delabeling in our community.

COMPLETED - History and physical exam

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 19:02:20 GMT

A retrospective analysis of a clinical opportunity

All learners at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University complete a longitudinal integrated

clerkship experience in their third year, which serves to improve learner experience with community and clinical acute

and chronic health needs. Early in the program, Muskoka faculty (two of the 15 LIC sites of NOSM U) became aware

that learners never had the occasion to complete a full history and physical exam on a real patient with complex

needs. Recognizing this as a critical experience, a program was initiated to provide learners with this opportunity.

COMPLETED - Evaluation of Patient Outcomes Using Minimally Invasive Pilonidal Cyst Removal in a Small Rural Hospital

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 19:31:12 GMT

Dr. Hector Roldan, MD, FRCS, FACS, SAGES, (PI), Dr. Nastasia Wasilewski, BSc., MSc., MD PGY3, and Lisa Allen, PhD. In this study, patient outcomes for surgical treatment of pilonidal cyst will be analyzed to determine if any one approach offers better results. Outcomes of interest include pain management, post-operative care, and follow-up, homecare required, surgical site infection etc. This is a two year study.

COMPLETED - The Evaluation of a Mobile Smartphone Application to Improve Antimicrobial Stewardship in a Rural Hospital

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 18:14:29 GMT

Research Team: Dr. Jennifer Macmillan, MSc, MD (PI), Dr. Malcolm Wilson, MD, Dr. Andrew Kapoor, MSc, MD, Dr. Natalie Taylor, MD, NOSM Family Resident, Dr. Cole Krensky, MD, NOSM Family Resident, Adam Ling, BSc, PharmD, RPh, and Lisa Allen, PhD.

This study aims to determine if the use of the Spectrum smartphone app can improve antimicrobial prescribing practices in a rural hospital. The Spectrum app is customizable and will be tailored to provide users with local content including guidelines, resistance patterns and dosing information. This is a pre-and post-intervention study that is using the National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS) to determine appropriateness of antimicrobial use.

COMPLETED - Establishing a collaborative relationship between a palliative care team and emergency department to enhance the palliative approach to care of patients in a rural community.

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 18:42:11 GMT

Dr Deborah Harrold, MD, CCFP (PI), Dr Stacey Erven, MD, CCFP and Rebecca Ellerson, RN, BScN, CON(C), CHPCN(C), Jenna Smith-Turchyn, PhD, PT, Lisa Allen, PhD.

Huntsville has a community Palliative Care Team (PCT) that consists of 3 family physicians, specializing in palliative care (PC), 2 PC nurses and a PC social worker. The PCT manages a case load of approximately 100 patients consistently throughout the year.

This project aims to improve the care that palliative patients receive. Our goal is to increase communication and ensure that the emergency department (ED) and PCT can work together to provide the best care possible for palliative patients and their families. We want to see if ensuring the ED physicians know immediately that PC patients are cared for through the PCT will make seamless health care for palliative patients including the fact that they can contact the PCT 24/7 to access patient history, goals of care and patient directives easier.

The system, for identifying palliative patients in the ED, is currently lacking. Therefore, the electronic flagging of patient files, combined with an increased partnership of the PCT and the ED, would improve patient care while maintaining patient goals of care through improved communication and 24/7 availability of the PCT to the ED physicians.

COMPLETED - Development of the Landscape of Ontario’s Opioid Use Management Distribution

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 16:42:55 GMT

Objectives:

This project aims to develop a valid current visual representation complimented with data for several factors affecting opioid use.

The information collected within this project will be used to identify areas in Ontario where there are high patient needs for opioid use disorder treatments, based on increased overdose deaths, increased criminal activity and increased requests for treatment or waiting lists.

We will also look to identify any areas that are without service or significantly underserviced based on the location of SUB/Methadone providers and relative population of each area. Our goal is to identify populations that are in a higher degree of crisis so that opioid crisis prevention can be directed to these communities. Considering the changing landscape of healthcare in Ontario and the overwhelming affect opioids have on communities, this project aims to provide information that can be used in planning, implementing and evaluating public health policies.

Principal Investigator:

Dr. Michael DeRoode, MD CCFP

Do you have questions or want more information:

Please contact our Regional Research Coordinator, Lisa Allen, by phone at 705-662-2901 or email at lisa.allen@mahc.ca

COMPLETED - Introductory Point-of-Care Ultrasound Course Using Simulation (HIP-Sim)

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 16:40:14 GMT

What is it?

We are establishing a FREE, self directed and hands-on learning point-of-care Ultrasound Course for Physicians and medical students in Muskoka.

What will I be doing?

You will participate in self-directed learning by completing the module(s) of your choosing using the Sonosim software and probe. You will then receive two 90 minute hands-on Ultrasound training sessions by one of our Primary Investigators. You may claim a portion of this training for Continuing Education Credits.

How do I sign up for the course/Find out more?

To sign up for the course or for more information, please contact our Research Administrator, by phone at 705-789-0022 ext 2705 or by email at research@mahc.ca .

Principal Investigators:

Dr. Pierre Mikhail, MD CCFP

Dr. Deborah Leung, MD CCFP

COMPLETED - Patient Dignity Question

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 15:36:07 GMT

Feasible, dignity-conserving intervention in a rural hospice

This study was investigating the feasibility of using the Patient Dignity Question (PDQ) in a small rural hospice setting.

COMPLETED - Evaluation of Two Models of Inpatient Care in a Rural Hospital

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 16:33:57 GMT

Melanie Mar, MD, CCFP, Jenna Smith-Turchyn, PhD, PT, John Lapp BSc., and Lisa Allen PhD.

Hospitalists are physicians who specialize in the practice of hospital medicine and are the fastest growing specialty in the history of medicine (1,2). Their growth is driven by their ability to increase clinical efficiency in the hospital. According to the Society for Hospitalist Medicine, formed in 2003, hospitalists have grown from a few hundred in the 1990’s to over 30,000 in 2013, with an increase of 20% between 2005 and 2006 alone (3,4). In Canada, the hospitalist model is increasingly being employed, with more than 100 institutions having hospitalist programs, often at the cost of traditional family physician providers (5).

For physicians entering the workforce, quality of life is becoming more of a priority. This has led some physicians to switch from their initial specialty to family medicine due to the increased workload of specialists and a lack of enjoyment for their time spent in the hospital setting (5). Others, however, choose family medicine because they value the diversity of this stream of medicine, particularly in rural practice where they are often required to have the broadest scope possible usually including hospital care, obstetrics and office care (5,10,11). The question remains whether patients are better served having a hospitalist care for them, who may develop better clinical skills, experience and deeper knowledge of acute medicine than a family physician who serves a far more diverse population (5).

The family physicians in Huntsville have formed a family health team that consists of 25 physicians, all but 6 of whom have hospital privileges. Each family physician has an active practice, some with specializations in obstetrics, palliative care, sports medicine and other areas. Additionally, those with hospital privileges work in a scheduled rotation to act as a hospitalist on a weekly basis throughout the year. Traditionally, each physician was responsible for inpatient care of their own patients and the ‘on call hospitalist’ only saw ‘orphan patients’ or those who were not from the area.

In the 2016 and 2017 summer months, the family health team agreed to have 2 hospitalists on per week to provide care to all attached and unattached inpatients. There were a number of anticipated benefits to this revised model of care. Firstly, by splitting the inpatient load between two clinicians, the caseloads for each physician would be more amenable to safe and quality patient care. In addition, the anticipated reduction in inpatient caseload would potentially allow physicians to maintain their office practice during the week and improve the clinicians’ work life balance. Lastly, this model was felt to be more attractive for locum physicians.

It was decided by the group that in June of 2018, the 2-hospitalist model would be continued throughout the year due to persistently high admission rates. The addition of over census inpatient beds also contributed to higher caseloads year-round. Higher caseloads increase the risk for unsafe and poor-quality patient care as well as negatively impact clinicians trying to manage their inpatients and community practices.

Presently, the physicians and hospital are seeking to evaluate the current inpatient model of care, specifically, with respect to cost efficiency, patient safety, quality of care and clinician satisfaction. The goal of this project is to determine the most cost-effective way to deliver the best quality care to patients in rural communities. We aim to determine if there truly is a need for two hospitalists within the hospital, or if the population would be better served with the addition of another family physician. Also, based on workload per physician, we aim to determine if quality of care is being compromised when the patient load is high, and determine what patient load is ideal per family physician/hospitalist.

The quantitative information required for this study will be collected in from ICES and qualitative data will be collected through physician, staff and administrative focus groups and surveys. The ICES data collected will compare the time period prior to the use of two hospitalists to the three periods of time when the 2-hospitalists model was incorporated. Data investigated will be; length of stay, 30-day readmission rate, number of orphan patients, where they are from and if they have a family physician identified, as well as comparison of quality-based performance measures before and after implementation of the 2-hospitalist model. ICES will be tasked with data collection analyses and reporting.

There will be six focus group sessions over the course of two years to allow relevant parties the opportunity to participate. The sessions will be moderated by a researcher trained in qualitative research methods. The community will be invited to sign up for a focus group through local news and public advertisement. There will be notices in physician offices and the notice board within HDMH inviting patients, physicians and patient care staff to attend. An email invitation will be circulated to board members, administrators, HDMH staff and physicians to invite them and notify them of all available dates.

A survey will also be developed for distribution to the hospital staff and the physicians to determine the areas of highest importance and where improvements can be made/have been made through this initiative. This will also query about quality of life for staff, physicians and what the impact of having a second hospitalist on routinely has on each party.

The findings from this study will be used to make recommendations on best practices moving forward with consideration from all stakeholders and evidence-based quantitative data supplied by the ICES analyses.

Status Update: We have held all focus groups to date which have obtained a lot of valuable feedback. The transcripts have been completed and the qualitative data is being analyzed. ICES has completed the quantitative data analysis and provided a preliminary report. The surveys are in the process of being sent out to all of the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Staff.

COMPLETED - The Rural Exercise for Cancer Patients & Survivors (RECaPS) Project

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 16:36:17 GMT

What is it?

An exercise program designed to help people who are currently receiving treatment or were treated for cancer within the past 5 years.

What will I be doing?

You will take part in a free, 12 - week, personalized exercise program consisting of twice-weekly, 1- hour exercise sessions supervised by our Exercise Lead, Deanna Lavigne, Registered Kinesiologist.

How do I register/Find out more?

Contact our Research Administrator, Maggie Partyka-Sitnik, by phone at 705-789-0022 x 2716 or email at therecapsstudy@gmail.com.

Study Physicians:

Lindsay MacMillan, MD, CCFP (PI)

Helen Dempster, MD, CCFP, MSc, BScEng

Rich Trenholm, MD, CCFP, CFPC, MSc, BSc

COMPLETED - Evaluation of a Practical Desprescribing Framework for Older Adults

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 16:37:56 GMT

What are we trying to do?

We aim to see if removing medications that are no longer needed, can help make older adults feel better. We will be reviewing medication lists with participants and discussing their goals of care to ensure patient safety.

Why are we doing this?

As people age and their body changes, medications that may have worked at one time can become inappropriate. Taking medications we no longer need can have negative side effects to our health.

Who may be included?

This project can include any older adult taking more than 5 medications daily and who may have any of the following; recent weight loss, frequent exhaustion, weakness, slow walking speed or reduced physical activity.

Do you have Questions?

Contact Lisa Allen, Research Coordinator at lisa.allen@mahc.ca or 705-662-2901.

Study Investigators:

Dr. David Mathies, MD, CCFP FCFP

Dr. David McLinden, MD CFPC FCFP

Melissa Kilpatrick, MN, NP-PHC

Project Status: This project is currently on hold due to COVID-19 to protect the participants.

COMPLETED - Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Dr. Hector Roldan, Dr. Andrew Brown, Jane Rady, RN

kristen@clientfirstcanada.com (Kristen Szykoluk) — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 20:59:20 GMT

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Dr. Hector Roldan, Dr Andrew Brown, Jane Rady, RN

Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) is a multimodal program designed to mi nimize post surgical discomfort for patients and enable them a more rapid recovery by changing many traditional surgical preparation and recovery behaviors. ERAS programs are well established in large institutions throughout the world and have had a positive impact on patient recovery. The goal of this program was to establish an ERAS protocol in our medium sized rural hospital for patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

The project objectives were to determine the impact that the ERAS program had on; patient length of stay, readmission rate and on post surgical complications. Additionally, a patient satisfaction questionnaire was completed for each patient wit hin the study.

Project Status: This project was completed from November 2015-November 2017 and was funded by the NOAMA Clinical Innovation Fund. The manuscript for this project is currently in progress.

COMPLETED - Antimicrobial Stewardship Collaborative Effort for Best Practices in Rural Northern Hospitals

kristen@clientfirstcanada.com (Kristen Szykoluk) — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 16:29:16 GMT

Primary Investigator: Dr. Malcolm Wilson

Co- Investigators: Dr. Jennifer Macmillan, Dr. Ken Foster, Dr. Tim Redmond, Danette Beechinor, Lisa Allen Students: Graham Shearing and Owen Johnstone

Antibiotics are used to treat infection and are among the most frequently prescribed medication in the hospital. In recent years certain bacteria have become resistant to certain antibiotics. This is a world-wide concern as these infections could become life threatening if modern medical facilities lose the ability to control microbial growth. The response has been the development of broad-spectrum antibiotics. These medications have the capability to control growth of most bacteria, however they should only be used against specific bacteria to prevent further resistance from forming. Unfortunately, it has become somewhat common to use more powerful antibiotics when a traditional choice would suffice.

This 2 year long project will determine the rate at which 2 specific broad-spectrum antibiotics are being used in 3 rural institutions, then inform individual physicians of their prescribing habits compared with their peers in the institutions. Educational presentations will follow based on each of the antibiotics in question to ensure that all members of each institution have the most up-to-date information regarding when these antibiotics should be used, at which doses and for how long.

Project Status: Data acquisition was completed June, 2020. The data is currently undergoing statistical analysis. After which, results will be shared.

COMPLETED - ERAS Order Set Development and Program Audit

kristen@clientfirstcanada.com (Kristen Szykoluk) — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 16:31:46 GMT

Primary Investigator: Dr. Hector Roldan

Co-investigators: Dr. Jennifer Macmillan, Dr. Andrew Brown, Dr. Jessica Reid, Dr. Biagio Iannantuono, Jane Radey, Danette Beechinor, Leslie Secord, Nathan Johnstone, and Lisa Allen

This project is a continuation of the ERAS project that was completed in November of 2017 at the Huntsville District Memorial Site of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare. In this follow-up project we plan to create electronic order sets for ERAS to facilitate prospective audits for the ERAS components. Additionally, we will use those order sets to implement ERAS at our sister site - South Muskoka Memorial Hospital. We will then prospectively audit both sites and compare ERAS and non-ERAS surgeries for the outcomes of interest which are; surgical site infection, hospital acquired infection, ileus, and patient satisfaction.

Status: This project started the summer of 2018. The retrospective chart reviews are complete for 2019 and are underway for 2020.

Extended Partnership

kristen@clientfirstcanada.com (Kristen Szykoluk) — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 21:45:39 GMT

We have partnered with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine to be able to offer our 3rd year medical clerkship regular simulation bay training sessions. We have now expanded the use of our simulation equipment to be able to run in situ simulations in our ED department.

huntsville-physicians-leg

Research Assistant Job Postings - Summer 2025

The deadline for submitting applications for research assistant positions is April 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

Practical Orthopaedic Application for Rural Practitioners: Evaluation of Online Learning

The study

NOSMU Faculty Preceptor Bootcamp

Developing Flexible, Expert, In-Person, Teaching Content One Community at a Time

Choosing Wisely Canada – Investigation of Awareness and Implementation

The Annex

The Rural Exercise for Cancer Patients & Survivors (RECaPS) Project Phase II: Multi-site Pilot

Women's Health Hub

Menopause Education Seminars

Class topics

REGISTRATION FOR 2024/2025 IS NOW CLOSED

CLOSED - Research Assistant Job Postings - Summer 2024

No longer accepting applications for research assistants in Muskoka for summer 2024- check back in SPRING 2025

COMPLETED - Evaluation of Direct Oral Challenge Clinic to Assess Penicillin Allergies in a Rural Ontario Setting-Pilot Project

﻿ Penicillin Allergy Delabeling in a Rural Ontario Setting

COMPLETED - History and physical exam

A retrospective analysis of a clinical opportunity

COMPLETED - Evaluation of Patient Outcomes Using Minimally Invasive Pilonidal Cyst Removal in a Small Rural Hospital

COMPLETED - The Evaluation of a Mobile Smartphone Application to Improve Antimicrobial Stewardship in a Rural Hospital

COMPLETED - Establishing a collaborative relationship between a palliative care team and emergency department to enhance the palliative approach to care of patients in a rural community.

COMPLETED - Development of the Landscape of Ontario’s Opioid Use Management Distribution

COMPLETED - Introductory Point-of-Care Ultrasound Course Using Simulation (HIP-Sim)

COMPLETED - Patient Dignity Question

Feasible, dignity-conserving intervention in a rural hospice

COMPLETED - Evaluation of Two Models of Inpatient Care in a Rural Hospital

COMPLETED - The Rural Exercise for Cancer Patients & Survivors (RECaPS) Project

COMPLETED - Evaluation of a Practical Desprescribing Framework for Older Adults

COMPLETED - Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Dr. Hector Roldan, Dr. Andrew Brown, Jane Rady, RN

COMPLETED - Antimicrobial Stewardship Collaborative Effort for Best Practices in Rural Northern Hospitals

COMPLETED - ERAS Order Set Development and Program Audit

Extended Partnership

Penicillin Allergy Delabeling in a Rural Ontario Setting